Or is my neighbour being ridiculous?!

[Lilianna123]

Always got on really well with our neighbours. They are very different to us but this has never been an issue. Have keys to eachothers houses for when we are away etc.

Woke up this morning to find a note through the letterbox from them, they are saying that our cat 'torments' and 'teases' their dog, by sitting our side of the fence and looking into their garden. They have also accused our cat of eating their hazelnuts off their trees. Now this could be our cat, but could more than likely be the squirrels we tend to have visit?!

Anyway, they are requesting we now try to keep our cat as an indoor cat, as it's not 'fair' on their dog and want us to replace their hazlenut trees next year. Am I being a unreasonable or are they just being completely bonkers?!

[Gardenbirds123]

YANBU

Also why would eating fallen nuts require all the trees to be completely replaced?

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

That's very funny.

[whois]

They are fucking bonkers. Your CAT is stealing their hazelnuts....? Nowt as queer as folk!

[Lilianna123]

They say that our cat eats them everytime the nuts fall off the tree and they seem to think the decent thing for us to do, would be to add to their collection of hazelnut trees. Very bizarre.

[ivykaty44]

But if you keep you cat inside it won't eat the nuts...? So you would. Have to replace the tree

[Lilianna123]

I suspect they know the squirrels are taking their nuts and looking for someone to blame they are such busy bodies!!

[BreconBeBuggered]

I think it's a cat conspiracy. My neighbour's cat does the same thing to our dog, sitting the other side of the hedge and winding him up. We had to chop our hazelnut tree down in the end as someone kept throwing the nuts around, and it was never proved that it wasn't the cat.

[TheUnsullied]

I think someone's a few nuts short of a roast.

[becciandbump]

I would remind them that keeping cats indoors is not natural and if their dog is scared of a cat staring at it then the dog needs to man up. As for the nuts if they are on the ground then what's the problem?

[thepothasboiledover]

I'd write back and say:
Dear X,
It appears that you haven't noticed the squirrels which frequent the area. They like nuts. It also appears to have escaped your attention that you are NUTTIER THAN SQUIRREL SHIT. Ask the squirrels to replace the trees, and have a word with my cat while they're at it

[lalalalyra]

Are they relatively new? Our neighbours recently moved and they once complained to the council noise people that our cat was making their dog bark excessively.

[PovertyPain]

Ask him to keep his dog indoors as he's upsetting your cats peaceful enjoyment of his garden.

Or start disgusting your cat.

[PovertyPain]

Disguising even.

[Bogeyface]

Some people have nothing to do with their time.

Ignore their note and if they mention it again say "Oh my God! You were SERIOUS??!"

[Notcontent]

Ok - this is either a joke thread or your neighbours are completely mad...

Btw, while I have met dogs that will eat anything, I have never yet met a cat that eats nuts!

[pictish]

Omg I am laughing out loud for real!
Just and really. Is this a wind up? Please say it isn't.

I haven't got any advice as to how to respond to that!

[e1y1]

Send a note back, telling them that you have had a quiet word with the cat and that he say's he is very sorry, and to apologise, he wants to invite the dog over to dinner.

Also tell them that you have sent a letter to the squirrel association, and they have replied saying the the squirrels are holding a fun day to raise money for a replacement hazelnut tree, and they are accepting donations for the tombola.

[rosiecam]

Set up a camera focused on the nut tree. Find the real culprits. Suggest to your neighbours that they charge the squirrels rent/ask the squirrels to pay for a new tree. They sound mad enough to do it, and you will have their interview with the squirrels on video

[ItWentInMyEye]

I've had many cats, and not one that ate nuts also, tell them they could always have a 'house dog' ain't nobody wants a litter tray!

[Papergirl1968]

Our neighbour complained our cat sitting on a windowsill in our house was making her dogs bark. Think she was barking herself...she got short shrift.

[pictish]

Does the dog bark and/or whine at your cat? Or get agitated? That'll be why they're putting the note through - because the dog's annoying them by getting wound up by your cat.
Not your problem though.

[pictish]

As for the hazelnut trees...just ignore that part entirely. They are being absurd.

[DeloresDeSyn]

Ooo! Our neighbours cat does this, it drives the dog potty! I didn't know I could complain

[trafalgargal]

Brilliant

Are they elderly, could this be Alzheimer's ?

I'd do nothing and suggest if they have any further concerns to talk to the appropriate authorities (hazelnut protection league perhaps)

Utterly nuts

(But get your keys back)

[DeloresDeSyn]

Arrgh- Neighbours'